Reef Cape Cod’s Home Builder
Thank you for all the enthusiasm and helpful ideas as we plan this remodel. I read every suggestion and check the spaces to see how each idea might work — it really feels like you’re right here with me.
If you prefer design reveal posts rather than floor-plan walkthroughs, you may want to come back another day. Today is PART TWO of our two-part tour of the BEFORE photos and floor plans (part one is available elsewhere if you missed it). This is a longer post intended to give everyone a clear sense of the space before we begin making design decisions and executing changes.
Now that you have an overview of the new kitchen plan, let’s take a tour of the main living areas — entry, living, and dining — so you can see where doorways and walls might be opened or removed to improve flow. These are mostly modest changes that preserve the home’s footprint while making the layout feel more open and functional.
Below are the before and proposed floor plans so you can follow along. If you want to revisit the kitchen plans and photos, refer back to the earlier post.
Before Floor Plan (above)
Proposed floor plan (above)
Before we walk through the photos, a few quick notes that came up in the previous post:
- We haven’t fixed the island’s exact shape or size on the plan because I want to see the opened space first. What looks right on paper can feel cramped or generous once you experience the room. The island might be longer or more square depending on sightlines and circulation.
- I want the kitchen — stove, sink and island — to look good from the living room, so final placement will balance aesthetics and function. I’ll share those design decisions in future updates.
- The fridge likely stays near its current spot so it can be recessed into the wall and less visible from the main rooms. It will be about eight steps from the sink, which I tested and found acceptable for this smaller kitchen. If needed, we can revisit the idea of relocating the fridge and creating a mudroom entrance.
- I’m considering options for changing the master bedroom/bath or adding a powder room; I’ll draw and share that separately so I don’t overload this post.
Imagine we’re standing just inside the new Dutch door in the kitchen, facing the hallway and basement stairs, with the fridge to our left.
In this view the kitchen and basement doorways would be removed, and the staircase partly opened with a short run of railings to bring light into the hall and improve access between the hall and the new kitchen/dining area.
Inspiration for opening the stairs from a local craftsman.
This is how the stairs might look when viewed from the kitchen Dutch door. We may also be able to open the bottom of the staircase similarly; I’ll show the basement in a future post.
Standing in the hall (blue tape visible from painting), the kitchen is to the right, basement stairs to the left, my son’s room behind us, and built-ins along the left wall. The staircase will be opened with railing and the wall ahead removed to create direct access to the dining room and kitchen.
Another view from the entry hall looking toward the kitchen, with the dining entrance on the left.
Facing the opposite direction in the same hallway, with basement stairs to your right, you can see where we could close off the master bedroom and bathroom and widen the entry into the dining room by removing the door casing.
This is the current view from the front door. My plan is to remove the door frame to widen the entrance into the dining room.
The coat closet near the entry and dining room likely can’t be fully removed because of headroom for the stairs below. However, removing the door casing and cutting back the opening could allow transforming the closet into built-in bookcases, visually widening the passage and adding character.
From the dining room looking toward the front door (which may become a Dutch door), the short walls between the living and dining areas could be removed to create a more open connection between the spaces.
The wall with the doorbell chimes in the dining room marks the basement stair wall. Midway along that wall, on the kitchen side, is where the new open railing will reveal the staircase leading down. The stairs will be accessible from both the entry hall and the kitchen.
This image shows the walls between the living room, dining room and kitchen. Opening these walls will make the whole area feel larger and more cohesive. We’ll feather in new flooring where necessary in the kitchen and refinish the rest of the floors so everything reads as one coordinated space.
The dining room remains the dining room in the new arrangement. We plan to add a built-in cabinet to the left of the dining window — the first feature seen when you enter the house. A French door isn’t possible there because of the basement exterior access directly below. Instead, we’ll add a banquette beneath the dining window between the new cabinet and the kitchen to provide comfortable seating and efficient use of space.
This view from the kitchen and dining area toward the living room shows the walls we plan to remove. Once opened, the living room windows will be visible from the dining/kitchen area, which will brighten and expand sightlines. We’ll also update the fireplace and refinish the floors as part of the cosmetic refresh.
That covers the current thinking and the before-state tour. I hope this walkthrough helps you visualize how the spaces relate and where small changes can yield big improvements. Next steps will include more detailed designs and finishes — I’m excited about the direction we’re headed and look forward to sharing the progress.